About six or seven years after my appointment my disillusionment with the Magistrates Association became such that I let my membership to that organisation lapse. My grievances were that it purported to be representative of magistrates but could rarely amass more than 80% membership from those eligible but more to the point did everything possible to keep that knowledge private and within a small number of those privileged to know the reality. That silent coterie usually included those next in line for appointments with the knowledge of a gong for the chairman a dead certainty. In a personal capacity I had offered suggestions for utilising the abilities of members to further the efficiency of the organisation. Some months later that approach was carried forward as if it were the brainchild of those at the top table. A forum set up by a member in the early 2000s where members could exchange ideas and opinions was taken over by the M.A. but closed down some months later. Dissent had to be controlled and terminated. As a contributor to Twitter X I have been blocked by the M.A. So it is with some surprise that today I have stumbled across a statement from said organisation with which I can find no objection. It is available here. The writer might be blowing in the wind with a wish list that is highly unlikely to be any more than that but at least current deficits from magistrates` points of view are in the public eye.
All too often it seems that what might be termed minor altercations get out of hand and one party swings a punch at another. Sadly, if only occasionally, that single punch can and has caused serious injury or death. Over the years calls have been made to place the tragedy of single punch death as a stand alone offence. A recent incident is a sad example. However, An interesting article from a publication I`ve never heard of is enlightening.
Recently I attended the West End production of Les Miserables being seated just a few rows from the orchestra. Unknown to me self righteous protesters from Just Stop Oil on the day after my visit to the show had been found guilty of causing criminal damage and aggravated trespass last September. My point today is posing the question as to when such activities develop from so called "activism" to fascism.
There can be few reading this who are unaware that the Lord Chancellor recently notified sentencers that they should keep in mind that the prisons are literally overflowing with offenders and there is no spare capacity. If that were akin to the boy crying "wolf" then be assured there really is a wolf this time. For what other reason could this offender not be sentenced to immediate custody?
Shortly after July 4th we will have a new government. It is also not unlikely that we will have as an MP a man who probably has had more influence from outside Westminster on major government decisions and activities than many cabinet ministers. But can any reader honestly believe that whilst we live in hope our once honoured and revered justice system will not fall further into decline?
Just call me J for Jerimiah of the P for Pessimists.
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